Have we won against COVID? It is too soon to declare victory. But for Christians like me, we declare victory every Easter.
In the Bible’s words, “Death has been swallowed up in victory … Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I admit that the victory that Christ won at Easter is an unlikely one. It reminds me of the conquest the soldiers of Athens won against the might of the Persian army. In 490 BC, Persia had conquered most of the known world, and they turned their attention to Greece, and in particular to the little nation-state of Athens. The Persians arrived by ship on the east coast of Greece, and set up camp at the plain of Marathon.
That picture – of Pheidippides gasping out the one word “victory” and then dying – is similar to the paradoxical victory cry of Jesus on the cross. As he died, Jesus cried out “It is finished”. That is three words in English, but only one word in Greek. The word does not mean “finished” in the sense of “used up”, nor “over”, but the sense of “completed” and “fulfilled”.
Jesus’ victory cry – his “Nike”, if you like – is the antithesis of the modern motto. Nike’s motto is “Just do it”. The victory cry of Jesus – “It is finished” – is a bold declaration that his saving work is “Done”.The message of the Christian gospel is not “Just do it!” We do not win the victory for ourselves and bridge the gap to God by our own efforts. The message is instead “Done!” Jesus has won the victory for us and offers victory to all who come to him seeking it.
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